SA-2 Guideline head

The most deployed anti-aircraft missile in the world, the SA-2 Guideline, was first produced in the mid-1950s. It was constantly upgraded. This missile was guided by radar and measured nearly 11 meters. The SA-2 flew at Mach 3.5. Its effectiveness could be seen during the Vietnam War when it inflicted heavy losses on the American Air Force.

On a more trivial note, the SA-2 inspired a global phenomenon. On 1st May 1960, an American U2 spy plane was shot down by an SA-2 over Soviet territory causing a diplomatic crisis which almost turned very sour. About ten days later, a little boy called Paul Hewson was born in Dublin. Later he would take the stage name of Bono. In 1978, he would change the name of his rock group from The Hype to U2, an allusion to the plane shot down by an SA-2.

Sébastien LEPRETRE is an airbrush artist recognized in the world of luxury car restoration. He wanted to test his skills on a curved support, such as this missile head.

His work is incredible! The color tones make the flames look unbelievably realistic. For the upper part, he used paint containing golden pigments which play with light. Whatever the angle with which we look at the head, the reflections of color are never the same. Amazing!

The pitot tube at the end of the head is covered in a 23-carat gold leaf; 6 coats of varnish have been applied in order to protect it from ultra-violet rays.

The 7cm-thick aluminum base is machined from a solid piece of metal. It alone weighs 50 kg.